Sammy's House

Samantha Joyce #2

by Kristin Gore

The heroine of Kristin Gore's bestselling inside-the-beltway romp Sammy's Hill returns, and this time the laughs are richer and the stakes are higher -- at home and in the house (the White House, that is) Samantha Joyce is many Health care policy wonk. Hypochondriac. Lover of Japanese Fighting Fish (and of Charlie Lawton, her Washington Post reporter boyfriend). Jumper-to-conclusions. And when all these identities collide -- as they do most days -- the results are always unpredictable. Sammy's role as an advisor to Vice President Robert Gary (RG for short) has led her down some exciting professional paths, like when she accompanies RG on a trip to India to help open pharmaceutical supply lines, and some troubling ones -- like when the president secretly asks her to plumb those lines to acquire as yet unapproved drugs for his own personal use. Her job interferes with her love life, too, after Charlie is transferred to New York for a huge story just when she's expecting a proposal, and they find that distance combines poorly with Sammy's dedication to her work and her overactive imagination. And then there's the surprising -- though ego-pleasing -- series of passes thrown Sammy's way, culminating in a highly embarrassing photo of a Hollywood hotshot's hand where it doesnt belong, published in the pages of Us Weekly . . . As the dual crises in Sammy's personal and professional lives come to a head, and her ideals are put to the ultimate test, readers will be flipping pages madly, wondering what might come next. Because in Sammy's house, anything is possible.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Politics, Humor, Romance, Audiobook, Adult Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jonna Rubin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Kristin Gore's writing. I really, really do. And frankly, Sammy Joyce is one of the most lovable, quirky characters I've encountered in years. She's multi-dimensional, real and endearingly flawed.

I couldn't really give a rip about the plot, though I'll allow that the ending was a little fast and forced, because for me, the books are essentially character study, and wonderfully enjoyable ones at that.

The one part of the book that sticks in my craw is Sammy's Potomac River-plunge at the outset of the novel. I wished Gore hadn't done it -- it was a little too over the top, even for Sammy, and it felt forced, rather than natural. The same goes for the Speck Johnson interaction -- both were unnecessary and I'd say it was a small transgression, but it honestly bothered me for the rest of the novel. It stole, I think, some of Sammy's authenticity right out from under her, which is a shame.

[Rhiannon Manzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book after a friend recommended it to me. There is no spice, but the writing is really great. I enjoyed how deeply detailed each scene was, and Sammy was a great character. The storyline follows her experiences and relationships, with no specific plotline overshadowing another. An easy read? Not particularly, but definitely one worth trying out if you're looking for a gentler book.

[Deidre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, this one was much better than its prequel!
Sammy was a bit too unhinged for my taste in the previous novel. Gore dialed back that crazy a bit here, and it made for a lovely story. I quite enjoyed it.

[Almeyda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was talking about politics and I almost DNF-ing this book because I was so bored. The only thing that kept me from aborting this book was LyingWye. I was super curious with who were behind it. Sammy's suspicion had a result and finally the traitor was revealed! But then the conclusion was...okay, it felt so rush and didn't bring any excitement. I mean c'mon we finally know who was the biggest traitor here!
Sammy and Charlie relationship was cute and sweet, although they need more trust between them. Bless Charlie for being the most patient man.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

honestly the only reason i read a book that takes place in the White House is because i finished watching Veep and missed the vibes. i thought the main character was extremely relatable, probably one of the most relatable protagonists out there. some of the romance plots were questionable, but still gets 5 stars. Also about halfway through I realized i was reading the second book in a series in which i didn't read the first book....

[Heidi Nibbelink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread Sammy's House and Sammy's Hill every couple of years. It's like Bridget Jones for political nerds. Re-reading now in the wake of the 2020 election brought new things to the surface--like what seem to be very prescient details about staffers covering for an incapacitated president. I wish Kristen Gore had more books out; I'd gladly read more.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Sammy! She's very relatable and a whole lotta fun!

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast, fun, easy read. Is Kristin Gore the daughter of Al Gore. I bet that she is....

[Siobhan Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started this I was definitely concerned because Sammy seemed reminiscent of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones and Olivia Joules - an accomplished woman in a competitive field who was somehow completely incompetent and idiotic. However, Sammy was a nice change. While she sometimes leaned into too quirky (a lot of inner thoughts that were reminiscent of mid 2000s "random" culture), she was still a smart person with a decent head on her shoulders, and the whole story didn't revolve around her made up fantasy scenarios.

My biggest beef with this book is that it's meant to be about a "red-hot scandal that blows the administration apart), but while Sammy discovers the scandal early in the book, not a lot happens related to it until 3/4 of the way through the book and then it kind of gets tied up quickly.

Not the fault of Gore at all, but parts of the book definitely didn't age well in the post-Trump world. The former president has a reality show where he is basically does anything for attention and is a bumbling fool... Definitely a bit close to home now... But since this was written in 2007, it's just a case of something aging like milk, rather than Gore doing something wrong.

[Serena B · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed some of the dialogue, many of the interactions between characters were odd and the plot was all over the place. Random references to her possibly being a bit of a hypochondria and carrying around medicines. Her mother seemed really overbearing. All of the scenes of her being hit on were so strange. All of these aspects added up to a jumbled plot line.

Highlights: I moved to DC in 2008, so I could relate to the time this book came out and some of the (now antiquated) references like to Blackberries. I was a little nostalgic to that. I also enjoyed seeing a glimpse into working at the White House and high-level travel (Air Force Two).

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much. Granted it is a love story with the White House as its main focus. Could Kristin hoping this will be home for the next four years. I thank heaven I did not read her first book “ although it had to be better than this.” I could not get into it and it did not hold my interest. Even with an alcoholic President and “ if you can call it that, “ White House intrigue. The outcome is very simple and easily determined by the reader. Not a very good read but hopefully she will change tactics and get off the White House. It would improve her writing capabilities.

[Christine Schmidt · Rating 1 out of 5]

"hilarious insight and a fresh perspective on political life" review
Alas, NO!
I read this as a respite after reading three books on World War II, but this was the definition of annoying chick lit, and did not lift my mood. Predictable, nothing new about Washington. Thought it had potential as a premise, but went nowhere.

[Satvika · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,7 stars

I know i'm not gonna enjoy it , not as much as i enjoy the first book and i am right

If the first book was sooo funny,clever and full of joy,this second book was too serious and stressful

Thank's to Sammy's and Charlie's relationship ,their sweet encounter saves this book from getting 2 stars from me

I miss Kara..and Ralph the security :(

[Sharon Falduto · Rating 3 out of 5]

A chick lit novel set against the tense political setting of the White House. Samantha "Sammy" Joyce is a junior level staffer for the vice president, and she tries to balance her love life with her work life. Fun book, especially if you like political insight as provided by an author who is actually the daughter of a vice president.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The pacing was good, the writing style is strong and funny, although sometimes the inside details get too far in the weeds. Unfortunately, I absolutely can't stand the main character.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both "Sammy's Hill" and now "Sammy's House" by Kristin Gore have been great! They are very witty with fun stories, in the genre of "Bridget Jones' Diary". I loved her writing style and this is a light and entertaining read about a young staffer in Washington D.C. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Cindy Grossi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, light account with much insight into the workings of the White House.

[Pamela Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this working girl’s view from The West Wing. Great little weekend read!!

[Heidi Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read and I enjoyed the book, however the plot just wasn’t as strong as the first book. Still, it didn’t seem to drag and it was a faster-paced story.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated this character. Didn't like the writing. Not much plot in the part I read. Got 62 pages in and couldn't stomach reading the next 300 so I stopped.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice breezy read about the life of a political staffer in DC. Smart and funny.

[Anmol Desai · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was slow at times and I didn’t feel satisfied with the ending. Finally a third of the way in, it had me interested enough to speed through it. I’d give a 3.5 true rating.

[Aly Orvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

my roommate (Sammy) and I were reading this out loud for fun, like literature wise not great but also SO SO good

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first one better. This one dragged a little. And wasn't as hysterically funny as the first. (Maybe my expectations were higher.) The main thing that I didn’t like about this book is the author’s blatant and almost borderline-comical bias toward the Democratic party. She never calls them by name in the book, but it’s obvious. A couple times when I was reading, I felt like saying, "OK! I GET IT!!! You hate all Republicans, and judge all people you encounter by what party label they fall under, and assume they're all the same. Let's MOVE ON!" She's lucky that her potential readers are a bit more open-minded! : )

Of course there are many “flaws” within the Democrat party that crop up in her narrative, whether it's with the party or more often, the people. She explains them all away (no matter how bad they are) with beautiful, heartfelt, almost poetic-sounding language that delves into the complexities of human nature and how they all have such “good hearts” – no matter how many people had been screwed by their actions. On the other hand, she all but blankets the Republican party with the label of “Evil”, abandons her previous flowery-sounding reasons that depict “human nature” when it comes to their motivations, and gives zero regard to the fact that they may also be doing things that they believe are in the nations best interest.

In fact, there were several instances where she totally explains away an action that was done by a Democrat character...while apparently ignoring (or forgetting) earlier in the book she had branded the same type of action as terrible when done by a Republican. (Guess the editors don’t catch everything!) Making one party (Dem) seem like perfectly-righteous moral geniuses whose actions and decisions could never possibly have ANY negative consequences (in general – there were a few exceptions) while making the other party (Rep) seem like evil-fueled automatons that never do anything remotely good...is just silly, and works against her credibility as a Washington-insider. (But this book is comical, so I guess the silly part works.)

I’m not denying that there are people in this world who do things for purely “evil” reasons who may deserve such harsh labels. For sure, there have been many innocent human beings (including children and babies) killed in dozens of Islamic countries where their only “crime” is their lack of being Muslim. However, I do not believe we have ever had a politician – Democrat or Republican – who is even in the same league as those who truly deserve such harsh portrayal. The truth is, most people who go into the ridiculously difficult world of politics do so in hopes of making their country a little better, in hopes of making a difference. What a “positive difference” is, is different to many people. But immaturely labeling people “evil” who don’t agree with you is counterproductive to what either party claims to stand for – and that’s the UNITED States of America. And I think Kristin Gore is better than the typical Extremist-Liberal persona she seems to embody at certain points where she portrays things as so black-and-white. But maybe I'm just being naive...

Other than this un-intentioned layer of comedy, it IS a great (and pretty funny!) read. Her writing is superb. What a strong command of the language! I look forward to more books from her.

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

""

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the prequel, Sammy's Hill and was very excited when I discovered Sammy's House as the continuation of Sammy's journey to The White House. While I did not find Sammy's House to be as humorous as Sammy's Hill, it was still an enjoyable book. I liked the to read about the inner-workings and life of White House staff. I don't often think about all of the work that goes on behind the scenes and Sammy's House was an interesting viewpoint into that world, albeit fictitious.

[Antof9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is some very smart chick lit! In fact, it might be too smart to be called chick lit. So what is it? Just political/relational fiction? That doesn't quite cut it. This was a little bit of a mystery, a little bit of a love story, a lot about the inner workings of the West Wing, and very interesting. So interesting, in fact, that I've already put Sammy's Hill on reserve at the library!

This book is both serious and funny, and the funny is really funny. There are lots of asides that made me go back and read them again for the chuckle. I wondered if she was a speed-reader. I considered speed-reading one of the less splashy, more attainable superpowers...

I recently trimmed all my nails short -- perhaps the shortest they've been since my mom cut them for me as a child, and painted them all a purply-black color (I think it looks cuter on short nails as opposed to witch nails if they were longer). So of course, this struck me I consoled myself with a hot shower, once I managed to free the complimentary soap from its shrink-wrapped plastic, which was a remarkably dificult thing to do. Such packaging really discriminates against short-fingernailed people. We may not look as polished, but we still deserve a chance to be clean.

This book was fascinating and informative while still managing to be very entertaining. I didn't want it to end! Sammy is a charming character with enough naivete to be hopeful in the political machine, but not annoying to the reader. Her internal struggles with information and her reporter boyfriend restore my opinion of ethics in chick lit (perhaps that's why I want so badly to call this chick lit ...). And of course, I loved RG, the vice president. I know he was written that way on purpose, but I still loved him :)

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't even remember what prompted it, but I was board one day at work when I was in New Zealand and I found out that Gore wrote this sequel to Sammy's Hill! I got so excited. I found out she was on a book tour and was coming to a bookstore near my parents house and I asked, for my birthday as my only gift, for them to buy me the book and get it signed. I waited until I got home to read it and I wanted to reread the first one before I read this one.

My first "new" book since I have been home! Everything I have read up to this point is something I have read before. Yay for new! This story was okay. It progressed forward both work and relationship-wise, which was good. Same old hang-ups, which were kind of annoying re: the boyfriend (he put up with a lot of the Girls shit) and the work stuff was good too. I wish there was a better outcome on who the leak from the White House was, but it was so MAD MEN in the way that they make phone calls, it was okay, sort of. The one thing that I thought was sort of weird was that in the first book the Girl didn't have a roommate, but in this book she did. It's like, as we grow older, aren't we supposed to want to live alone? That should have been swapped and if she did have a roommate, it should have been the kid from her home state that she really got along with. That girl wasn't mentioned at all in this book, which was kind of a letdown, as I kind of liked her! She and the Girl could have had some good adventures together. Also, the book was left open ended, so there must be another one coming down the line. The first one ended with some pretty good closure so when I found out there was a sequel, it was a surprise, but after this one, there better be another one coming! All in all, for chick-lit, still one of my favourites.

Grade: C+

[The Marvelous J-A-G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Who doesn't like the occasional romantic political comedy? No one I know. This book is definitely better than Legally Blonde 2 (few things aren't). It's also better than all of the Harlequin novels I've ever read (which, for your information is 4 and I was 13).
So knowing what it's better than, I suppose you might want to know what is better than this book. Simply speaking, a lot of things are better. Not just bacon and cheese. I think I could easily compile an entire hot dog cart filled with books that are better. Though I wouldn't go to the extent of covering anything in relish; or providing literary relish. This book really doesn't deserve that sort of gloating. It's not that bad and while it's not as strong as "Sammy's Hill," I wouldn't hesitate to mention it as a sequel should anyone ask.
If you're just here for the plot recap, I apologize for the delay and here you go:
We meet Sammy again, she's working in the white house now (yipee)!
We meet her friends, some old some new, and oh, by the way she's still dating Charlie.
Charlie moves to NY for his important reportering job. (Yes, reportering is a word, according to the J-A-G)
Sammy learns that the president (of the United States of America, mind you) is a non-recovered alcoholic despite what his press-kit might say.
Knowing secrets isn't Sammy's forte.
Then the word forte and it's origins are discussed while Sammy's life kicks into high stress mode.
There's some stuff with her pet fish and bff Liza then a senate inquiry and the end is really light and fluffy. Hooray!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a worthy follow-up to Sammy's Hill. I imagine, for an author, the benefit of not having to develop a new narrative voice in a sequel is offset by the difficulty of living up to the first work. Gore accomplishes this task, but it's certainly not a rehash of the first book. Everything has matured a bit - Sammy, her love life, the politics, idealism, and the writing itself. The problems are more difficult and more complex, but the journey is even more interesting, if slightly less amusing.

Reread May 2010, addendum:

In Sammy's Hill she did the whole Pride and Prejudice / Bridget Jones thing of falling for the wrong guy, while having a standoffish relationship with the right one. And in the end she ditches the asshole, ends up with the great guy, and all is good. It's nice seeing that story continued past the "happily ever after", and see her now deep in that relationship with the good guy. Because there are inevitably problems, and their careers and personalities clash sometimes. We witness Sammy struggling with the question of whether or not she should just give up and abandon the relationship, or decide that it truly is important to her, and strive to work out the issues.

Of course, the ending is happy, so we know which path she takes.

I'd like to be friends with Bridget Jones. And I'd like to marry Sammy Joyce. And there's the difference.